The parable describes ten virgins who take their lamps to meet the bridegroom. Five of them are wise and bring extra oil, while the other five are foolish and bring no extra oil. When the bridegroom is delayed, all the virgins fall asleep. At midnight, the bridegroom finally arrives, and the virgins wake up to prepare their lamps.

The foolish ones, realizing their lamps are running out of oil, ask the wise virgins for some, but the wise refuse, saying there isn’t enough for both. The foolish virgins go to buy more oil, but while they are away, the bridegroom arrives. The wise virgins go with him into the wedding banquet, and the door is shut. When the foolish virgins return, they beg to be let in, but the bridegroom replies, "I do not know you.